Alexander Berkman Social Club

More Blast for Your Buck!

About Us

The Alexander Berkman Social Club is a group of anarchists who want to talk about what anarchism is, how anarchists see things and what anarchy could look like. Named after the editor of San Francisco’s mighty The Blast, we hope to have continual monthly meetings that are open to all. If you come you’ll get a membership card, the chance to win thousands of dollars (alright – the odd book or two) and hopefully something to think about and act on. You failed the audition for “So You Think You Can Dance,” and you just don’t seem with it. Don’t worry. The ABSC will have you. See you there!

We'll be at the San Francisco Bay Area Anarchist Bookfair this Saturday March 13 selling as many copies as we can, come find us. But if you can't make it, copies are also available through the Kate Sharpley Library and AK PressOriginal reprint of the collected Bulletin of the Joint Committee for the Defense of Revolutionists Imprisoned in Russia & Bulletin of the Relief Fund of the International Working Men’s Association for Anarchists and Anarcho-Syndicalists Imprisoned or Exiled in Russia

Reprinted here for the first time, this collection of bulletins—edited through the years by Alexander Berkman, Mark Mratchny, Milly Witcop-Rocker, Rudolf Rocker, et al.—chronicle the gradual slaughter of a whole generation of Russian anarchists and revolutionists. They also illustrate the astonishing effort of small groups of radicals who, living often in appalling conditions themselves, attempted to both highlight the vicious reality of the Bolshevik government and alert a wider public to the awful situation its prisoners found themselves in. Imprisoned, tortured, driven mad, and exiled to places so remote no contact with the outside world was possible, the prisoners disappeared into a totalitarian darkness. Each recorded name or initial printed here signifes a life that often had been spent in revolutionary commitment, a life systematically and carefully destroyed by erstwhile “comrades.” To remember them is the least we can do.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Fundraising rally for the Anarchist newspaper of Venezuela El Libertario

Movie: The Rebel Patagonia

From 1920 to 1921, there was a peasant uprising inPatagonia led by anarchists. The army, led by Colonel Varela, reacted by executing some 1,500 people. Because of the remoteness of the region, the events did not become known in Buenos Aires at first. Once they did, the anarchist movement started a campaign against the "killer of Patagonia", as they called Varela. This led the Tolstoyan anarchist Kurt Gustav Wilckens to assassinate the colonel on January 23, 1923.

While it might be a few months before there is another meeting of the ABSC, there is still a lot going on around the Bay Area and we thought you might be interested in the following events

November 13, 2009Anarchism in Venezuela: Another Perspective on the Bolivarian RevolutionTalk and movie about the anticapitalist and anarchism perspective on the Chavez government and his contradictions, the truth behind a revolution was betrayed for one man.

AnarchisminVenezuela: another perspective about the Bolivarian revolutionConference and movies about the anticapitalist and anarchism perspective about the Chavez government and his contradictions, the true behind a revolution was betrayed for one man.Movies: Venezuela 27 de febrero Our oil and other talesDay: November 15Hour: 7:00 p.m.Place: Station 40 (Mission 3030B 16th St San Francisco, CA 94103)Type: Fundraising event in solidarity with Sabino Romero, indigenous leader in prison for fight against the coal exploitation in the indigenous communities and the anarchist newspaper El Libertario, bring your solidarity (money, magazines, newspaper or proposals)more information: http://www.nodo50.org/ellibertario/http://indubioproreovzla.blogspot.com/Invite: El Libertario and Station 40 crew

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

It's that time again, time to let you know about our next exciting Alexander Berkman Social Club meeting. This month our featured guest will be Chris Carlsson, and he will be talking about his project FoundSF and anarchist history in San Francisco.

Chis Carlsson is an urban historian, political activist, author of Nowtopia (2008) and editor of Processed World (1981-1994, 2001, 2004-5), The Political Edge (2005), After the Deluge (2004), Critical Mass: Bicycling’s Defiant Celebration (2002), Reclaiming San Francisco (1998), and Bad Attitude (1990).

This looks to be a great evening, so please come and join the conversation!As always there will be snacks, raffles and friendly faces.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

I hope you can tear yourself away from Facebook and come and support some New Zealand anarchists who are having a bit of trouble with the state. Yes. That is right. New Zealand. We are going to skype one of them (don't worry. I do not think they can arrest you for it and nothing naughty is involved.) She is going to tell us details about the case and ask us to publicise it. As they say over there 'New Zealand: A Long Bloody way from anywhere" so it would be nice if all my friends can show up, have a drink and listen.

If you can't I may have to find you and carry out an attentat on your person. I do apologise but if you don't come you really do need a Fricking. Support your comrades. If it was a good enough strategy for Sabate it is good enough for you.All proceeds from the event go to their defense costs.

That's it then. Off to have a sleep. All this permanent insurrection wears me out. See you.

Monday, September 14, 2009

We are very excited about this meeing as we'll be trying something new this month. We will be talking with anarchist Valerie Morse, live from Wellington, New Zealand using Skype. This will be an exciting opportunity to hear directly from other anarchists about the anarchist movement in New Zealand, and especially about the state of the movement following the 2007 terrorism raids in that country.

If you don't know much about the Terror Raids, then this is the perfect opportunity for you to come to our next meeting!

Listen to Our Meetings

Meeting Programs

Have you missed a recent meeting?Curious about what was discussed?Feel like you're missing out?Want to more about a topic or the awesome speakers? Reports of prior meetings or a little more about the ABSC?

Well yes we do eventually try to publish pictures and audio of the events, but now we also have programs for the events. Oh the excitement!